USS USS R-12 SS 89

USS R-12 SS 89 R-1 Class

June 12, 1943. Sunk by unknown causes. 42 men lost.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

(Submarine No. 89: displacement 569 (surfaced), 680 (submerged); length 186'2"; beam 18'; draft 14'6"; speed 13.5 knots (surfaced), 10.5 knots (submerged); complement 33; armament 1 3", 4 21" torpedo tubes; class R-1)

R-12 (Submarine No. 89) was laid down by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Mass., March 28, 1918; launched August 15, 1919; sponsored by Miss Helen Mack; and commissioned at Boston September 23, 1919, Lt. F. J. Cunneen in command.

R-12 remained at Boston until she headed down the coast on March 11 to New London, whence she operated until the end of May. She then continued south to Panama; transited the Canal at the end of June; arrived at San Pedro in July; and with the designation SS-89, departed the California coast for Pearl Harbor at the end of August. Arriving September 6, 1920, she remained in Hawaiian waters, with occasional exercises on the west coast and off Johnston Island until December 12, 1930. On that date R-12 got underway for the east coast and returned to New London on February 9, 1931. She conducted exercises with Destroyer Squadrons of the Scouting Force into the spring, then following overhaul, trained personnel assigned to the Submarine School. On September 27, 1932, she departed New London for Philadelphia where, after decommissioning on December 7, 1932, she joined other R-boats berthed there in the Reserve Fleet.

Some 7 years later (July 1, 1940), R-12 recommissioned in ordinary and shifted to New London to complete activation. Recommissioned in full October 16, 1940, she sailed for Panama December 10, arrived on the 23rd, and into October 1941, patrolled the approaches to the Canal. On October 31, she returned to New London and for the next 3 months operated off the New England coast. In February 1942, she commenced patrols to the south and for the next year operated primarily from Guantanamo Bay and Key West. During March and April 1943 she was back at New London, then in May she returned to Key West where she trained submariners for the remainder of her career.

Shortly after noon on June 12, 1943, R-12, while underway to conduct a torpedo practice approach, sounded her last diving alarm. As she completed preparations to dive, the forward battery compartment began to flood. The collision alarm was sounded. Orders were given to blow main ballast and close the hatches. But the sea was faster. In about 15 seconds R-12 sank. The personnel on the bridge, two officers, including the Commanding Officer, and three enlisted men, were the only survivors. Those missing include four U.S. Naval officers, and thirty-six U.S. Naval enlisted men, and two Brazilian observers. It was the opinion of the Court of Inquiry that the cause of the loss of R-12 was unknown, but probably was caused by the rapid flooding of the forward part of the ship through a torpedo tube.